Doreen Gonzales

The Indian Ocean is home to many different plants and animals. It also has many resources that make many of the things we use every day. Readers will discover the plants and animals that live in, on, and near this special place, the scientists who explore its mysteries, and the reasons we need to protect this tropical resource.

As anyone who lives near a major fault line could tell you, earthquakes are a very real threat. The compelling and educational text explains why earthquakes happen and discusses the other disasters, such as landslides and tsunamis that they can trigger. A two-page spread focusing on the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, as well as chapters on the San Andreas Fault and the terrible quake that hit Sichuan, China, in 2008 are also included.

The Arctic Ocean is a hard place to live. Frigidly cold, the ocean freezes during the long, dark winters. In summer, you can still find ice there. Readers will discover the plants and animals that live in, on, and near this special place, and the scientists who explore its mysteries.

Readers explore the ways that out-of-control water can devastate an area. They will read explanations of how tsunamis form and the range of things that can cause flooding, including heavy rains, hurricanes, and dam collapses. They will learn about past disasters, such as the Johnstown Flood and the tsunamis that hit the Indian Ocean and Japan in 2004 and 2011, respectively. They will also glean reassuring tips on how to react if ever caught in a flood...

These spinning columns of air can cause massive, if weirdly localized, destruction. Readers discover the conditions under which tornadoes form. The informative text explains what Tornado Alley is, and introduces the Enhanced Fujita scale, which is used to measure the destructiveness of these storms. The tornado that tore through Joplin, Missouri, in 2011 is featured in both a chapter and a two-page spread with statistics. There are chapters covering...

Thousands of American soldiers were dying and millions more combatants and civilians were perishing during World War II. Some of the world's greatest scientists escaped their own war-torn countries and fled to the Unites States. These scientists discovered a possible way to end the war. Thus began the three-year experiment resulting in the production and use of the atomic bomb. Author Doreen Gonzales examines the creation of this powerful weapon and...

"Describes what map scales are and how to use them to compare map distances to real distances"--Provided by publisher.

Describes the events and people surrounding the creation of the atomic bomb, and examines the effects of its use during World War II.

Describes the physical characteristics, plant and animal life, explorers, and environmental problems of the world's largest ocean, the Pacific. Includes Internet links to web sites related to oceans.